2018 La Vida Bella Vineyard Pinot Noir
Vineyard
The La Vida Bella Vineyard is located above the floor of the Pleasant Valley area of Corralitos. At 600 feet in elevation and three miles from the ocean there is a very strong maritime effect on this vineyard. Joe Quink and Pam Minnis' site features a large swale on the northern section of the vineyard with some of the steepest terrain in the area.
Winemaker Notes
2018 was another dry but not particularly warm winter; this changed in early February. A high-pressure system brought daytime temperatures into the 70’s, warming the soil and initiating bud break at some vineyard sites. In March, a cold front settled in and brought nighttime temperatures down to freezing, risking frost damage to the new shoot growth. These ‘false’ springs have become much more common in recent years. Summer was mild, leading to a marginally later harvest. The concentrated wines are poised and complex with depth and structure.
Technical Data
Vintage
2018
Varietal
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Santa Cruz Mountains
Vineyard Designation
La Vida Bella Vineyard
Acid
5.7
pH
3.51
Alcohol %
13
Other Notes
The 2018 Pinot Noir La Vida Bella Vineyard envelops the palate with its breath and inviting contours. Black cherry, cloves, licorice, sage, menthol and coffee bring out the darker side of Pinot. There's real fruit richness, substance and inner perfume to play off the wine's natural structure. Gorgeous. - 94 points. Antonio Galloni, Vinous